Xia, witnessing the unrest, quickly sprang into action. She recognized that the success of the festival and the alliances depended on maintaining a peaceful atmosphere. "General Liang, Lin Feng, we need to address this situation before it escalates further," she said, her voice steady.
As they approached the dissenters, Xia raised her hands to calm the crowd. "What is the meaning of this disruption? We are here to celebrate unity and cooperation among our kingdoms!"
The leader of the dissenters, a once-respected noble named Lady Mei, stepped forward, her eyes blazing with anger. "You think you can silence us with your celebrations? The kingdom is not as united as you claim! Many of us still remember the betrayal and the loss of our power!"
Xia met her gaze, unflinching. "I understand your frustrations, Lady Mei. But let us not allow our past to dictate our future. We have the opportunity to build something greater together, but only if we choose to embrace each other rather than divide ourselves."